Machine for hulling nut meats from their shells



Nov. 1, 1938. l. J. FISHER 2,135,393

MACHINE FOR HULLING NUT MEATS FROM THEIR SHELLS Filed June 8, 1937Patented Nov. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR HULLING NUT MEATS FROMTHEIR SHELLS Isadore J. Fisher, Dallas, Tex. Application June 8, 1937,:serial'No. 147,103 6 Claims. (01. 146-8) This invention relates to amachine for hulling nut meats from the shells;

More specifically, the invention relates to a machine for hulling themeats from the shells of nuts, particularly pecans which have beenpreviously cracked either by hand or by machine.

It is well known that the act of hulling the meats from the shells ofnuts and particularly pecans, regardless of the care exercised incracking the nuts, is monotonous, tiresome, and time consuming whendone-by hand which has heretofore been the usual practice.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a machinecapable of hulling the meats from the shells of a large quantity ofcracked nuts in a relatively short period of time.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machineembodying a plurality of beaters and means for feeding the cracked nutsby gravity to the heaters in succession whereby the successive impactsof the heaters on the cracked nuts eifect substantially completeseparation of the meats and shells.

A still further object of the invention is the 5 provision of a machineas a means for separating the meats from the shells of cracked nutswhich is simple in construction, effective in operation, and is capableof being manufactured and sold at relatively low cost. I

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will becomeobvious in the course of the following disclosure, reference will bemade to the accompanying drawing, forming part of same, and wherein 3Figure l is a side elevational view of a machine constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a right end elevation of the machine as illustrated in Fig.'1.

40 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section viewed from the opposite side of themachine as illustrated in Fig. 1.

'Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partially in section and partially inelevation disclosing the preferred 5 means for journalling therollersembodied in the machine.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of one of the rollers on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the inserts or beaters embodied inthe machine.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, and wherein likecharacters designate like parts, I0 designates a frame which may be ofany suitable materialand construction for supporting an inclined troughor chute I I.

The frame I0 as illustrated embodies a pair of relatively long legs I2for supporting the higher end of the chute I I and a pair of relativelyshort legs l3 for supporting the lower end of the chute II, the framefurther embodying a pair of laterally spaced horizontal members I4 onwhich is disposed a motor support I5. While the chute I I is disclosedas being supported on the legs. I2:

adjacent the ends thereof, as is more clearly illustrated in Fig; 4.Each of'the bolts 22 is threaded into the floor I6 and a relativelyheavy coilspring 23 encircles'the bolt with its opposite ends engagingthefloor I6 and bar 2| for maintaining the bar in engagement with thehead of the bolt 22.

The bolts 22 may be replaced'by studs rigidly fixed in the floor I6 andhaving nuts onthe projecting ends for effecting adjustment of bars 2|,particularly if the chute be constructed of wood.

Secured to each of the bars 2I is a 'pair of bearings 24, the bearingson one of the bars being closer each other thanthe bearings, on theother bar as is" more clearly indicated in Fig. 2..

Journalled in the bearings 24 are the reduced ends 25 of rollers 26 and21 which, in keeping with the varied spacing of the bearings 24 on bars2I,are inclined relatively to each other and the ends I8 and I9 of chuteI I, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

The reduced ends 25 of the rollers 26 and 21 at the adjacent or nearerends thereof project throughthe adjacent'side I1 and have fixed theretogrooved pulleys 28 and 29 which are operatively engaged by a V-belt 30for transmitting rotation of roller 21 to roller 26.

Fixed to'extension 25 of roller 21 adjacent to and outwardly of pulley29 is a grooved pulleyv 3| which is operatively engaged by a V-beltl32which also operatively engages a grooved pulley 33 on an electric motor'34 suitably secured to the support I5. The lower end I9 is provided withdischarge openings 35, and a suitable discharge trough 36 is providedwhich opens through the side I'I above the lower end of roller 21.

As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the roller 26 is inclineddownwardly toward the belt drive while roller 21 is inclined downwardlyaway from the belt drive; This may be reversed, however, it beingsuificient only that the rollers be inclined whereby nuts fed into theupper end of the'chute I I will travel by gravity toward the lowerend'of the chute along the successive rollers.

The roller 26 is provided adjacent its lower end with a reduced portion31 providing a nut exit Opening and each of the rollers is provided withdiametrically disposed inserts or heaters 38 which may be constructed ofwood, leather, steel or any other material ioundmost suitable for theirparticular use.

The inserts 38.,areeach preferably provided with ribs or corrugations asis indicated at 3,9 in Fig. 6. 5 The removable covern may be securediii: po-

sition by any' suitable means and is provided with a pair of angle irons40 for a purpose hereinafter.

described.

Having described a matched. constructionjpifr the machine constitutingmy invention, the'o'per ation thereof is as follows: 7 W r .Nuts'whichihave been cracked are fedinto the V chute I I above the roller 26by 'any's'uitable means,

- chute in advance .of theroller 26-. v

\ The; rollers 2mm 21 arerOtated in mine" direction and/at. relativelyhighspeed. by. means of-belts 30 :and. 32: and' electric .motor '34..The nuts'willibe subjected to a beating action 'by the ribbed inserts38'carriedby the roller-26 and, the nutswhile being thusacted upon will:slovvlygravitatetoward the lower end of the roller, and .upon reachingthe. exit opening defined by theireduced II portion. alwill pass intothe space inadvance. of

the second roller 21' adjacent? the :higher end.

thereof'.'- I

i Thenuts will be similarly acted upon by the ribbed inserts 38carried'bythe roller 21,- and'upon U! reaching the lower endthereof orprevious to such 7 time, thehul'ling will have beencompleted'. and these'pa'ratedmeats and shells will gravitate to the lower end of the chuteand pass through. openings 35 into a suitablere'ceptacle oronto aconveyor;

Mi While practically all the nuts will. have been sufiicientlyrtreatedto effect hullingwotthe. meats from'the shells upon reaching the lowerendt of roller 21, still any which may not have beenxso treated or thoseimperfectly. separated will pass 4;), out through the trough 36.. r .1.k The cra'cked'nuts are dependent upon. the beat ing action ofthe-ribbedinserts or heaters 38- for efl'ective separation of the-.meatsfrom the shells, the nuts resting upon the: floor ISiand constantly 4;gravitating toward the lower otexit end of the chute, and 101' mostefilcient'action the rollers 26 and 21 should be disposed atapredetermined distance above the floor 15,. dependent upon the size andcharacter of nuts beirigtreated, and the spaclngxof the rollers fromthecfioor canfbel. readily adjusted by means of the bolts; 22;.thefsprlngs- 23 normally maintaining the rollers in any adjustedposition relative to'jthe' floor I6. I 7 l 7 The vertically disposedflanges, of theangle irons'l flterminate closely abovethe-rollers26 and'5 between the'rollers and cover 20. 5 While 1 the machine as disclosedembodiesonly twofinclined rollers, andwhich are suflicient foreflectiveihulling' of the 'me'ats from theishells,

nevertheless additional rollers may be provided if desired, and thechute-ll may be supported forfadjustm ent oftheinclination' thereof;

Thejchute may 'be' constructed of any desired .material, but'ifconstructed of woodthe. floor. I6 and sid'es l1 shouldbe covere'd withsheet metal to provide smooth surfaces whereby the nuts will chute. V a

While I have disclosed: but asingle specific mbodlment'of myfinvention,same is to' be conreadily gravitate toward the lower end of the 'as e.g. by a conveyor which may be utilized to. deliver the nuts from acracking station to the 21 and thus act to prevent the nuts from;passing beating thenuts resting on the floor oi". the chute 'adjacent.the rollers as they progressively advance downward in the chute, anopening in a side wall r of the chute in advance of the lowermost rollerior-dischargingpartially shelled nuts, and openings in the lower end ofthe .chute' ior .dischargjing. completely shellednuts.

2, The structure definedi in. claim -liwherein the rollers arejourna-ledin adjustable: bearingsyieldably supportedfromthe floor of thechute.

'3. A machine for mining or .shell-ing'nuts cornj prising an inclinednut-receiving receptacle having a bottom, sides, upper and lowerends,and a covena bar adjacent each of said sides and. with,-

in the receptacle, a pair; of;beari ngs. supported by each of. therbarsin unequally'i'spaced relation,

clined relative to the ends ofthe receptacle jour-} naled;in saidbearings means for rotating the rollers in unison, yieldable meanssupporting. said bars in spaced relation to the fioor of thereceptwcle,and. adjustable means -for moving the ba rs toward the iioor aga-instthe. action of said yieldable means for spacing the rollers-rfrom.thefioor nut agitating and beating rollers: oppositely in- V formosteffective agitating andbeating action upon nuts of various sizes; I

4. The structure defined in clairn- ;3,. I

said cover isprovided with projections extending transversely thereoiand above said rollers for V preventing passage of nuts rbetweenthecover and,

the rollers.

5.. Arnachine forhulling; or shelling nuts; com prising an inclinedchute forreceiving andg-permitting gravitational feed-,ofnuts:fromthe'upper 7 end thereof, a pair of spaced rollers having-theirV opposite endsjournaled adjacent opposite sides of. the-; chute,. therollers: being equally spaced from the bottom of the chute and eachprovided withagitating. and. beating. vmeans -for successively: actingupon the nutsresting upon the floor of the chute adjacent the.respective rollersias they progressively advance forwardly-'in thechute, and wherein the first ofsaidrollersge'n:

countered-by the nuts is provided with a reduced portionintermediate -its.- ends;;t.o permit .thepar- V tially shelled nuts to pass therethroughfortune agitatirlf n beating ac ion b line other roller,

I 6. A machineiorhulling orsheiling' nuts prising an inclined chute forreceiving'andperr mitting. forwardmovement of thea-nutsga-nd a rollerhaving its opposite ends journaled adja: cent the opposite sides of.the-chute and provided i V with agitating and beating means .for actingupon the nuts resting uponthe floor of; the chute adjacent the, rollerasthey; progressively; advance toward-the rol1'er,-andwherein. saidagitating and "beatingmeans comprisesaribbed-bars extendinglongitudinally oftheroller. I j Y i ISADOREI J1 F SHER;

